The Arizona Diamondbacks are hoping their staff ace, Ian Kennedy, can end the five-game losing streak the team is currently on and bring the Snakes back to .500. Manager Kirk Gibson, however, doesn't want Kennedy feeling like he's got to throw a shutout and overall doesn't want any of his players trying to do too much on their own.
"We went through this last year. It's not fun. It's frustrating. But you come out of it," Gibby said.
As for Monday's starting pitcher to take the place of the injured Daniel Hudson, Gibby would only say, "We're still discussing it. We're not prepared to do that."
Here's a bit more on the thinking that goes into that decision:
"If I started Miley, then what does that do to my bullpen. If he pitches good, he's out for five days so that changes the complexion of your bullpen. Then you look and try and forecast how long Daniel (Hudson) is going to be out. It's not that easy. We've got a game today. We're going to see how we come through the game. Miley might pitch today. If he pitches today, he's out tomorrow. He's certainly one of the guys we're considering, but we could also bring somebody up."
It doesn't help that none of the top young prospects would be ready to go on Monday. Derek Eitel is scheduled to pitch for the Double-A Mobile Bay Bears and Zach Kroenke is slotted for the Triple-A Reno Aces. Patrick Crobin is scheduled to get a start on Tuesday.
It's entirely possible that Miley goes on Monday and then Corbin is brought up as a long reliever. In his last start on Thursday the 19th, Patrick threw seven innings, giving up seven hits and two runs. His ERA is 2.25 on the season. It seems unlikely the D-backs would bring him up and have him make his major league debut on short rest.
Tyler Skaggs pitched on Friday and Trevor Bauer pitched on Saturday. Charles Brewer is scheduled to pitch Sunday for Mobile. We'll watch and see if he's held out of that game.
Sunday's Lineup
Kirk Gibson likes to mix up his lineup and certainly with the team scuffling and struggling to generate offense, it's no surprise to see him insert a few different guys and move folks around. Cody Ransom is done passing kidney stones, so he'll get the start at third in place of Ryan Roberts.
"Hopefully, he won't have any recurrence during the game," Gibby quipped.
John McDonald will start at short in place of Willie Bloomquist as part of their normal rotation.
- Gerardo Parra (CF)
- Aaron Hill (2B)
- Justin Upton (RF)
- Miguel Montero (C)
- Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
- Jason Kubel (LF)
- Cody Ransom (3B)
- John McDonald (SS)
- Ian Kennedy (RHP)
The D-backs will face Braves RHP Randall Delgado who throws a fastball and change-up and mixes in a curve. The Braves were successful pitching the D-backs away on Saturday, so we'll look to see if they continue that approach.
-- Reliever Takashi Saito is shutdown again. He had a setback with his calf injury. Gibby wasn't sure yet on a timetable.
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